WELCOME TO "HISTORY SPACES."

Profile and Purpose

History is about “everything.” And I believe it is one of the most interesting of pursuits, full of engaging facts, stories, anecdotes and connections that fuel our imaginations and inspire us to know more about an entertaining subject. So there you have it. “History Spaces” is a project dedicated to the proposition that everything you ever really wanted to know about history,… the “good stuff” which might have grabbed your attention and stimulated your curiosity,… was hidden between the lines and in the empty spaces of your textbooks. My purpose will be to surprise you and cause you to think or say, “I didn’t know that!” So whether you are an adult/student who, up until now, glazed over at the very mention of anything historical, or a teacher who is desperately looking for some entertaining, enjoyable, amusing and sometimes just downright funny material to use in your classroom,…welcome!

"I promise to never be boring."

And who is making this promise to you? My name is Jerry Anderson, M.A., and for 31 years I was a high school history and English teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the last 8 years I have worked for Cardinal Stritch University as a student teacher supervisor for their College of Education and Leadership. I also regularly teach professional development classes to high school history teachers on methods, materials and storytelling strategies to use in making history classes more engaging and exciting for students.

Now, are you ready to take an excursion into the past? What secrets, surprises, skeletons, lies and laughter will we find? Come with an open mind and ready for some fun. From Napoleon to the Popsicle, feminists and food, the history of words and slang (Why do we say it? Where does it come from?) race relations and conspiracy theories,  from the chocolate chip cookie to presidential love affairs, from Queen Victoria to Mae West, from Jack the Ripper to Walt Disney, from words of the famous to infamous words, from Jesse James to the Tootsie Roll, from the ancient Greeks to modern politics, from candy and gangsters to gender and racial issues – anything is possible! Where will our journey take us? Does it matter? Come along for the ride. 

I hope you’ll drop in regularly to see what my mind is concocting for your entertainment. My aim is to create a place you can regularly visit for enjoyment and imaginative stimulation. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, either on my facebook or twitter pages. Responses are both encouraged and appreciated.